Coroutine: meaning, definitions and examples
🌀
coroutine
[ ˌkɔːrəˈtiːn ]
programming concept
A coroutine is a general control structure whereby flow control is cooperatively passed between the various routines within a program. Unlike regular subroutines, coroutines can yield control back to the caller and resume later, allowing for asynchronous programming models and scalable applications.
Synonyms
asynchronous function, generator, task.
Examples of usage
- The coroutine handles multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Using coroutines simplifies the state management of the program.
- Coroutines are commonly used in game development for handling animations.
Etymology
The term "coroutine" was coined by the computer scientist Melvin Conway in 1958 to describe a program component that generalizes subroutines for cooperative multitasking. Coroutines enable multiple entry points for suspending and resuming execution, as opposed to traditional subroutines that have a single entry and exit point. The concept gained traction in programming to manage state efficiently and perform tasks in a non-blocking manner. The growing demand for asynchronous programming in web applications and game development has led to further exploration and implementation of coroutines in various programming languages. This evolution reflects the need for more efficient use of resources, particularly in handling I/O operations and managing multiple concurrent tasks.